These three wizards of the web, Bill Sobel, Andrea Syrtash, and Ann Nyberg came together yesterday to discuss the opportunities social media offers in personal branding and growing your own personal community.  These online topics were discussed live in a very relaxed round table style of conversation.

Ann Nyberg, Connecticut’s self appointed “fairy godmother”, opened the discussion by introducing Bill Sobel.  Instantly, I knew we were not in Oz when Bill Sobel began speaking.  He is open, honest, and so immediately had my trust, that I would allow this “superconnector” to lead me down the yellow brick road or anywhere his conversation leads.  “Dating expert”, Andrea Syrtash, has so much going on for her between books, tours, coaching, and creating online content, that she truly is the leader of the brand. The personal brand that is. 

The conversation between the three of them was focused around connections, conversations, sharing content, people helping people, and the importance of developing your voice.  Authenticity, transparency, and the need to be real were woven throughout the dialogue.  Tools for getting into the online conversation were highlighted, as well.  The big three; Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin were unanimously agreed upon as being  the most important platforms to be engaged with for growing your personal communities.  The power of tweeting, retweeting, linking posts to tweets were topics that were raised by Nyberg, with both Sobel and Syrtash, in agreement about the importance of them. 

While they all agree that what’s coming next is anyone’s guess, the urgency to get onboard “the train”, as Ann says, has never been more important!  Everything has shifted and all of us are in “Oz” trying to figure out the new rules, the new way of the world.  The power is back in our hands, the hands of the people.  People like me. People like you.  Our voices need to raised, in concert, rising up above “the noise”, like a beautiful symphony.  In unison. Together we have the power change our world. Individually, it is up to each one of us to build our communities.

With such leaders sharing their visions with us, I think we have little to fear, and everything to gain, if we join them.  My plan is to connect, both online and offline, with Bill Sobel, the “human link”, Andrea Syrtash, the self coined “slasher”, and Ann Nyberg, Connecticut’s “Glinda, the good witch” as often as I can. 

My lesson here……follow, follow, follow, follow! Follow the clickable link!!

A small state with the opportunity to connect…big time!  Just like our many roads and highways connect our communities, our conversations,  collaborations, and communications, should join us together as people. A people united to better our towns, cities, state, and our lives.  Let’s stand tall, Connecticut!

Let’s make our voices heard.  Join the conversation.  It doesn’t matter how. Online! Offline!  Take action!  What matters is making our voices come together…to create change.  Online conversations will unplug and go live when we all meet up in New Haven for Social Web Week CT, July 10th through July 16th.  New connections will be made, live and in person, with 25 dynamic events developed with an emphasis on “connecting”.

Together we will exchange ideas.  We will learn about the many talented people right here in our small but mighty state. Online friends will meet live. Our voices will all join the conversation as we focus on our potential as a people together.  It’s about you. It’s about me.  It’s about all of us.  We all have an influence.  A voice.

Collaborating on projects…  Actualizing our potential…

Building new relationships…  Changing our lives….

Exploring possibilities…        Growing together….

Uniting people….                Raising our voices…

Connecting Connecticut!

http://www.socialwebct.com/

C ONNECTIONS

  O PPORTUNTIES

    N ETWORKING

      N AVIGATING

        E NTREPENEURS

         C OMMUNICATION

           T EAMWORK

             I NSPIRING

               C ONVERSATIONS

                 U NITING

                   T ECHNOLOGY

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Haven rises to the top becoming the crown jewel of Connecticut.  Where New York is sprawling and overwhelming, New Haven is neatly tucked into  a walkable and more subdued atmosphere.  Occupying an area that stretches from the cliff like faces of East and West Rock to the deep harbor on Long Island Sound, New Haven offers the best of everything Connecticut, and more.

Below an eclectic skyline, which is a panorama of old European spires, quintessential New England rooftops , and modern American skyscrapers, are streets lined with elm trees and diverse architecture.  New Haven is probably one of the few cities that offers hiking trails and a beach, in addition to its beautiful parks.  Downtown centers around the green with its historic three churches.  Here one finds a more hectic pace of people working, shopping, eating, playing, and biking.  People on the move.  Out on the streets. 

New Haven is the epicenter of all things Connecticut.  Home of Yale University,
it’s a college town with an international component that is woven right into the fabric of the culture. New Haven is  an  unrivaled hub for its medical and educational  institutions.  The arts, museums, diverse festivals and events, offer an exciting and dynamic cultural flair.  Arts and ideas.  This is a city where live music, plays, shows, theater, and sports takes stage year round in its many unique and historic venues.

To know New Haven is to taste its many amazing restaurants. The great coffee houses.  The breakfast haunts.  The world famous pizza places. The home of the hamburger.  The neighborhood bars and pubs.  The farmers markets.   The food here knows no limits nor ethnic boundaries.  From top notch world class five star restaurants to food trucks located around town, New Haven is Connecticut’s food destination.

A city of diversity, where the working class walks the streets with students from around the globe. While facing the same challenges many cities face, New Haven still has it all.  There is something  here…for me and for you.

If you get to know New Haven…you will discover there is so much to explore, see and do. 

If you knew New Haven like I do, you would understand that this city is a playground for you…for New Haven is a diamond in the rough. A gem.

So, let’s hear it for New Haven!

Cause it’s right here for me and for “You” Haven!!